Bulk solids transport system and method

A system for conveying particulates, the system comprising:

• a trough adapted for receiving and holding the particulates being conveyed, said trough further having a bottom having at least one permanently open aperture for accepting particulates from said trough;
• means for oscillating said trough, said means for oscillating said trough comprising a piston within a cylinder and means for delivering a fluid to the cylinder at an increasing rate, the piston being connected to said trough so that the fluid delivered to the piston at the gradually accelerating rate drives the piston to a desired speed;
• and
• means for rapidly decelerating said trough, so that particulates received in said trough may be accelerated to a desired speed by said means for oscillating said trough and then rapidly decelerated so that the momentum gained by said particulates received in said trough as said trough is accelerated allows the particulates to move relative to said trough when the trough is rapidly decelerated.

A method for delivering particulates to a melting pot, the method comprising:

• delivering a continuous flow of particulate material to an oscillating trough, the trough having a bottom having at least one permanent aperture;
• gradually accelerating the particulate material by moving the trough by means of a piston driven by a fluid delivered to the piston at a gradually increasing rate, the piston being connected to said trough so that the fluid delivered to the piston at the gradually accelerating rate drives the piston together with the trough and material in the trough to a desired speed;
• and
• rapidly decelerating the trough, so that particulate material in the trough move relative to said trough due to the speed gained when the trough together with the material was accelerated.